Judging Criteria

The judges look for three main criteria in the completed submissions:

  1. The quality and thoroughness of the submission;
  2. The quality of the solution and evidence of customer validation; and
  3. The commercial viability of the new venture, reflected in the steps taken by the founders to implement the venture.

The following are the judging criteria for this year's 业务 计划 Competition:

  1. 演讲: Quality and thoroughness of the presentation and the business plan document.
  2. The Opportunity/Problem/Need: 多好 does the presentation explain the Problem or Opportunity being addressed? 做 it explain why you decided to pursue this opportunity or solve this problem now?
  3. The Product/Service and Value Proposition: 多好 does the presentation explain the proposed business solution? 多好 does it explain the benefits/value that the proposed product/service provides to the customer, the specific problem it helps to solve?
  4. Market Size and Customer Profile: 多好 does the presentation describe the market size and expected growth? 做 it clearly profile the most important customers?
  5. Competitive Advantage: What differentiates this business and its solution from that of its competitors? 做 this business have a strategy to achieve competitive differentiation? 有 some kind of ‘underlying magic’ to the proposed solution?
  6. 商业模式 & 计划: What is the source of revenue for the business? If there are multiple revenue streams, how much would each revenue stream contribute? 做 this business have the potential to develop into a viable enterprise? 做 the company have a well-thought-out plan to grow revenues and reach breakeven?
  7. Go-to-Market Strategy: 做 this business have a strategy to reach its customers? Who are its key partners? What tasks will they perform? Are the business development, sales, marketing, advertising, and distribution strategies explained?
  8. Current Status/Stage of the Venture: What has been accomplished so far? Do you have a prototype, proof of concept? 如何 many potential customers have you interviewed? What did you learn from their feedback?
  9. 这个团队: Do the founders have the experience/skills/competency to start this business? 为什么 are they the “right” team to start this business? Are the founders cognizant of management 空洞? Have they thought through how to fill the gaps in their team? Are they committed to build and expand the team and organization?
  10. Major Milest一个s for the next 3, 6, and 12 months: Have the key milest一个s been identified? Are they realistic? What are the resources required to meet those milest一个s?
  11. Startup Capital Requirement: 做 the presentation clearly identify the total startup funding requirements for the next 12 months? 做 it explain the main uses of the funds?
  12. 前进: 如何 would winning this Competition impact your plans in starting your business? 

Additional in格式ion on a sample 格式 can be found in the sample business plan 格式.

* Please note that the SVBPC judges will use a variety of criteria to evaluate the entries, including any criteria that the judges develop, or deem necessary, as a group, apart from the 一个s listed above.